COLLATERAL DAMAGE Meaning and
Definition
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Collateral damage refers to the unintentional or incidental harm or destruction caused to people, property, or infrastructure during a conflict or military operation. It occurs as a side effect of a direct action targeting a particular objective or enemy combatant. This term is often used in the context of armed conflicts, warfare, or terrorism.
The primary characteristic of collateral damage is its unintended nature, meaning that it is not the intended or deliberate objective of the attack or operation. It encompasses the consequences that extend beyond the primary target or intended objective, affecting individuals or assets in the vicinity of the intended target. Collateral damage can include civilian casualties, damage to civilian structures, disruption of public services, or destruction of infrastructure systems.
The concept of collateral damage recognizes that in armed conflicts and war, it is difficult to completely avoid harm to civilians or non-combatants. Despite efforts to mitigate harm, it is an unfortunate reality that innocent people and property can be harmed or destroyed in the midst of military operations.
The term collateral damage is often used to emphasize the unintended consequences and moral complexities associated with armed conflicts. It highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by military forces or policymakers when attempting to strike a balance between achieving military objectives and preserving civilian lives and infrastructure.
Common Misspellings for COLLATERAL DAMAGE
- xollateral damage
- vollateral damage
- follateral damage
- dollateral damage
- cillateral damage
- ckllateral damage
- clllateral damage
- cpllateral damage
- c0llateral damage
- c9llateral damage
- coklateral damage
- coplateral damage
- coolateral damage
- colkateral damage
- colpateral damage
- coloateral damage
- collzteral damage
- collsteral damage
- collwteral damage
- collqteral damage
Etymology of COLLATERAL DAMAGE
The term "collateral damage" originated in the field of military strategy and it refers to unintentional or incidental damage caused to persons or property during a military operation. The word "collateral" is derived from the Latin word "collaterālis", which means "side by side". It was initially used in the mid-19th century to describe something that is accompanying or parallel to something else.
The term "damage" comes from the Old French word "damages" or "domage", which relates to harm, injury, or loss. It ultimately traces back to the Latin word "damnum", meaning loss or damage.
The combination of the words "collateral" and "damage" to form the phrase "collateral damage" originated in the 20th century with the rise of modern warfare.
Similar spelling word for COLLATERAL DAMAGE
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